Auction Item Details
Lot 143
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Lot Number: 143
Description: Significant 1897 Boston vs. Baltimore baseball game cabinet photograph. Incredibly scarce 19th century game action image depicting the third game of a series played between the rival Boston and Baltimore clubs at Union Park in Baltimore. Stunning game scene image taken from a right field vantage point picturing an overflowing crowd watching a late season contest between the Boston and Baltimore clubs. Baltimore had won the National League title the previous three seasons with Boston winning several prior with the September 27th, 1897 match marking the final meeting of the year between the two clubs. The two teams split the first two games of the series with this final game going to Boston by a score of 19-10 after Baltimore's pitcher (Joe Corbett, younger brother of boxer Jim) took a line drive off his pitching hand in the second inning. Image quality is exceptional for the medium boasting crisp focus and fine contrast. Stadium game scene imagery from the late 19th century is exceedingly rare with the offered example counted as one of the earliest of its type. Titled within the negative at bottom margin and marked "Copyright 1897 by E.D.McAfee" at bottom right. Preserved nicely on its original mount the image itself measures 7 1/2"x9 1/2" having a horizontal crease that extends across the photo which does break the surface towards the left side of the photo. Original mount has pencil notations by Bready at bottom denoting its use as the title page photo for his classic Baltimore Orioles volume, "The Home Team+ in 1958. Verso retains original Baltimore Trust Co. identification paper label. One other exemplar without titling or photographer's credit is known within the Library of Congress and although there may be other surviving examples we have not to date offered another. Important Baltimore baseball related artifact with desirable provenance from the Bready Collection: VG-EXEstimated Price Range: ($10,000-$20,000)
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